Moto's morphing Android mounts balance beam

Motorola has expanded its Android smartphone portfolio with a quirky little number called Backflip.

Motorola's Backflip runs Android and Motoblur

The phone supposedly combines the “social savviness and personalization” of Motoblur – Motorola’s UI for syncing contacts, posts, feeds, messages, emails and photos from the likes of Facebook and Twitter - with the multitasking performance of a smartphone.

Based around a 3.1in, 320 x 480 display and running Android version 1.5, Backflip can rotate into several different positions each designed to make application or entertainment experience less painful.

Tabletop mode, as shown above, gives the phone a flat base and raised back to make watching films that much easier. The mode also turns Backflip into a handy bedside alarm clock.

A 5Mp camera and Wi-Fi support feature on Backflip

Backflip supports HSDPA 3G connections of up to 7.2mb/s and Wi-Fi over 802.11 b, Motorola said. Bluetooth is supported and a 5Mp camera lurks around the phone’s rear.

Other notable Backflip features include its 315-hour standby time and 3.5mm headphone jack.

Motorola’s Backflip will somersault into Europe and North America during Q1 this year. A price hasn’t been released. ®